N E W S L E T T E R The Pulse - PHASA
Transcript of N E W S L E T T E R The Pulse - PHASA
N E W S L E T T E R
The Pulse
“RENEWABLE ENERGY COULD REDUCE EMISSIONS BUT ALSO CREATE JOBS AND IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH.”
From the Desk of Dr ANDRÉ ROSE The Pulse - Editor
May 2019 - Edition 7 In this edition of the Pulse we
look at the issue of
environmental health and the
role of advocacy to support and
mitigate the public health
challenges we face. The impact
of air pollution and its impact of
morbidity and mortality is
discussed. The Climate Energy
and Health Special Interest
Group (SIG) explain why the
issue of energy is a public health
concern. Joining this group will
open up opportunities to make a
difference in public health.
Shakira offers insights on how
advocacy can shape the public
health of the communities we
live in.
Read about the New PHASA President on page 2 & 3 as he shares his Vision for PHASA and what Inspires him
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Interview with Moeketsi Modisenyane
The New PHASA President
Moeketsi Modisenyane was elected as the new president of PHASA
following André Rose stepping down as president to pursue an
appointment at the National Cancer Institute in the USA. In this two
part series we get to know the new incumbent better.
What is your vision for PHASA?
My vision is based on the founding principles of Public Health, which include equity, fairness and
inclusiveness, empowerment, effectiveness and evidence-based practice. My vision for PHASA is
founded on my motivation for, and commitment to, responding to population health which
should be underscored by the core values that guide both what we do and how we work as a
National Association.
At the centre of our work is our commitment to:
Valuing human life;
Respecting the dignity of all people;
Respecting diversity and promoting the equality of all people without distinction of any kind,
Preventing and eliminating human suffering;
Supporting community values that encourage respect for others and a willingness to work
together to find solutions, in the spirit of compassion and mutual support; and
Addressing social and economic inequities and fostering social justice.
These values are and should be common to our work as an Association in responding to
population health, whether we are addressing specific diseases; prevention; health promotion;
treatment, care and support; palliative services; development; human rights or humanitarian
responses. Many of these values expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
Who inspires you as a leader?
Someone who leads through consensus. Today there is a high level of intolerance to divergent
views in many organisations. In the battle of ideas, persuasions or engagements until a consensus
is reached is deteriorating in many organisations and sometimes people rely on numbers and
their position in society; whether in government, academia, the private sector or society in
general.
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The late President of the ANC, Oliver Reginald Tambo, is a leader that truly inspires me. The
former president of the ANC, Thabo Mbeki, said: “What distinguished Oliver Tambo from other
leaders was an unwavering commitment to serve the people of South Africa with no expectation
of any personal benefit.”
Even if our Association were going through various challenges, we should remember the
following words of the late Nelson Mandela at Tambo’s funeral on 2 May 1993 in Johannesburg:
“Oliver Tambo has not died, because the ideals of freedom, human dignity and a colour-blind
respect for every individual cannot perish.” Tambo said this about Mandela: “Nelson Mandela is
on Robben Island today. His inspiration lives on in the heart of every African patriot. He is the
symbol of the self-sacrificing leadership our struggle has thrown up and our people need.”
As aspiring and emerging leaders running the gauntlet of life, it is up to us to be brave, like
Tambo, and take up the challenge to be ethical and accountable influencers and leaders while
inspiring and motivating others around us. For many leaders in South Africa, Tambo represents
the finest example of how a leader should contribute to transcending performance and service to
others. We need a new calibre of a leadership that will touch the deepest essence of all South
Africans to inspire them to do better, to be better.
A QUOTE BY A LEADER THAT INSPIRES
MOEKETSI MODISENYANE
“We have a vision of
South Africa in
which black and
white shall live and
work together as
equals in conditions
of peace and
prosperity.”
Oliver Tambo
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WE ARE THE AIR WE BREATHE
From the Editor’s Desk
Waterloo Bridge by Claude Monet (1903)
The Impressionists artists were inspired by the play of light and shadow caused by the urban
smog of the sprawl cities like London during the Industrial Revolution. Beneath the layers of
colour and the play of light is the unfortunate stories of the maladies of the people that suffered
and died as a result of the pollution.
The environment we live in has a profound effect on our health. The air we breathe, the water
we drink and the soil that feeds us are all intricate to the health of individuals and the
communities they come from. The spread of communicable diseases and managing the surge is
non-communicable disease are all directly link to the health of the environment.
The environment is largely affected by anthropogenic activities. We pollute the rivers, oceans,
soil and air that is meant to be a life force to us. We are thus able to mitigate these destructive
influences. This however requires awareness at an individual, community, country and global
level. Arguably the biggest environmental catastrophe we as a human civilisation are facing is the
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the impact climate change is having. The commitment to avert the changes as a result of
climate change or to mitigate for adaptation to these changes are dependent on strong
political commitment from all nations. This commitment has principally been lacking by the
power bloc in the world.
Air pollution is largely the result of the burning of fossil fuels. Exhaust fumes and coal fuelled
electrical power stations continue to be the main sources of pollution. Greenhouse gases
such as methane, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide contribute to the growing effects of
climate change. The results of air pollution includes upper and lower respiratory tract
infections and allergic mediated illnesses such sinusitis, asthma and exacerbations of
conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Indoor air pollution is a result of the burning of fossil fuels such as paraffin and coal in the
home for heating and cooking. This inefficient methods produces particulate matter and
harmful gases that have a detrimental effect on those in the home. The ripple effects include
an increase in respiratory related conditions; stunting in children which affects
neurodevelopment and decreased scholastic achievement. This fuels the social determinants
of health and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
The effects of air pollution are contained by national or geographic borders. Massive air
contamination in one geographical area can easily spread to the adjacent countries with
plumes trekking across vast oceans and not contained by mountain ranges. For this reason it
is imperative that the global community joins forces to address this growing concern. The
collective effort of all nations is required to advocate for the changes required to affect
change.
In this edition of the Pulse we look at the issue of environmental health and the role of
advocacy to support and mitigate the public health challenges we face. The impact of air
pollution and its impact of morbidity and mortality is discussed. The Climate Energy and
Health Special Interest Group (SIG) explain why the issue of energy is a public health
concern. Joining this group will open up opportunities to make a difference in public health.
Shakira offers insights on how advocacy can shape the public health of the communities we
live in.
“The Earth is what we all have in
common”
Wendell Berry
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CURRICULUMModules 1-5: Entirely online; Modules 6-11: Combined online teaching with practical assignments
MODULES CREDITS
Module 1 Introduction to human infectious disease immunology 4
Module 2 Introduction to vaccinology 4
Module 3 Introduction to vaccine manufacturing and distribution 4
Module 4 Introduction to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation of South Africa 4
Module 4 Introduction to the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases and the
corresponding vaccines used within the EPI32
Module 6 EPI vaccination schedules and strategies in South Africa 12
Module 7 Introduction to cold chain management 12
Module 8 Introduction to the safe administration of vaccines 12
Module 9 Introduction to adverse events following immunisation 12
Module 10 Introduction to advocacy, communication and social mobilisation to increase
vaccination uptake12
Module 11 Monitoring and evaluation of EPI-SA 12
Total credits 120
New qualification: HCert (Vaccinology)offered by
School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Designed to equip healthcare workers with the theoretical knowledge and practical expertise necessary for running an up-to-date clinic that offers infant/ childhood vaccination services.
Admission requirements: 3-year qualification in relevant health science and registered with the relevant statutory professional body.
Duration: Minimum 1 year; maximum 2 years of online study.
For more information contact: Ms Varsetile NkwinikaTel: 012 521 4044Email: [email protected]://savic.ac.za/
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I have spent the last seven months or so immersing myself in literature, policies and advocacy
work around non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Trust me, it dawns on you, just how vast the
field of public health really is.
Just a year prior I was leading youth engagement work in sexual and reproductive health rights
(SRHR), rapidly writing in my notebook as the ever so energetic Executive Director, Jonathan
Gunthorp from the SRHR Africa Trust (SAT) whizzed into a room and threw out acronyms and
new policies. It’s always daunting to enter a new dimension of public health but so fulfilling
once the penny drops and you become an expert of sorts (enthralling)!
For the new gig in obesity prevention/ NCDs, I attended an orientation training at the Campaign
for Tobacco Free Kids in Washington DC and learnt how in tobacco, 1) research/ evidence is a
crucial tool to convince policy makers and fight off industry, 2) once the evidence is gathered
you need to cover all your bases (legal wise) and understand which policy makers and processes
to target, 3) the message has to be effectively communicated, amplified and finally 4) you need
policy champions, those who will garner support, push the agenda and ensure implementation.
To sum it up, for the first time, I understood the term “strategic policy advocacy”, i.e. research +
advocacy (law + communications etc) = policy change which is set to eventually lead to a change
in social norms. Now this is certainly one formula I have been looking for! Think about it, a
policy on smoking in public areas has changed social norms for our generation, we don’t know
what it’s like to sit in a restaurant in South Africa (SA) where people smoke openly, well that is
until you get to Doha of course and so I heard Egypt.
Other interesting interactions, I had been fortunate to encounter resulted in understanding
youth engagement and what it means for chronic patients, those who live with NCDs from the
well-known diseases such as cancer to the lesser known and rare diseases such as sickle cell
disease. Thanks to NCD Child, I was not only given the opportunity to attend the 71st World
Health Assembly but also given the space to innovatively lead a discussion with the ever so
inspirational previous front-runner for the World Health Organization (WHO), Director General
(DG) post Dr Sania Nishtar. Dr Nishtar challenged youth in the room for recommendations for
the United Nations (UN) High Level General Meeting to which we were even stronger than the
WHO High Level Commission on NCDs, we came outright with recommendations, supporting
taxes on sugary sweetened beverages.
Evidence + Advocacy (Policies, Communications, Legal) = Change in Social Norms Dr Shakira Choonara – African Union Youth Council & NCD Child Youth Advocate
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But it doesn’t stop there. There are other interesting interactions and experiences I’m burning
to share! Dietetics expert Professor Rina Swart from the University of Western Cape (UWC)
pointedly remarked and changed my views for eternity, “For apple juice you would need
between 3-5 apples, an no one usually eats that number of fruit in one sitting”. Aadielah Maker
Diedericks from the Southern Africa Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA), (who I met thanks to a
PHASA survey circulated ) explained how KFC sponsors children’s cricket in SA and how she was
interested in looking at Sunfoil being a case-study for how alternative funding can be used to
fund physical activity aka cricket in SA versus South African Breweries (SAB). Last words of
wisdom and an absolutely must watch is the renowned Jamie Oliver’s documentary Sugar Rush.
I leave you with some hard-hitting facts and eye-openers;
A “so called healthy” breakfast of cereal and juice has a whopping 14 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR!
The average sugar consumption in the United Kingdom is roughly 36 TEASPOONS per day versus
the recommended WHO 7 TEASPOONS per day!
The UK has 7000 AMPUTATIONS a month!
Mexico has an unbelievable 75 000 AMPUTATIONS per month, even babies have Coke in their
bottles.
Go on, get to YouTube and have a watch of Sugar Rush https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=spCVTRHnZ1E , become an advocate today either around individual norms or at the ever-so-
effective policy level otherwise our failing health system will have even more trouble dealing
with what we as public health experts, could have, must and should prevent!
*Opinions expressed are solely those of the author of the write-up.
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USEFUL LINKS:
https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/ACOG-Departments/Global-Womens-Health?IsMobileSet=false http://globalhealth.thelancet.com/2014/08/08/empowering-women-and-girls-impact-gender-equality-public-health https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/women-and-health-initiative/ https://www.wits.ac.za/publichealth/research-entities/gender--health/womens-health-project/ https://www.womeningh.org/ https://www.who.int/gho/women_and_health/en/ https://cbhd.org/Initiatives/Global-Womens-Health-Initiative https://www.womeningh.org/initiatives https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4147 https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.13023
QUOTES
“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty,
advancing economic growth... these are one and the
same fight. We must connect the dots between climate
change, water scarcity,
energy shortages, global
health, food security and
women's empowerment.
Solutions to one problem
must be solutions for all.”
Ban Ki-moon
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The Climate Energy and Health Special Interest Group calls for a “Just Energy Transition”
The Climate Energy and Health (CEH) Special Interest Group (SIG) of PHASA is a network of
public health advocates for healthy energy policy and practice, which recognises that energy
is a major public health issue in South Africa, polluting local communities and driving global
climate change emissions.
The CEH SIG therefore sees the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018, South Africa’s energy
“roadmap” for the next generation, as a significant opportunity for the national government to
mitigate climate change emissions, air pollution and improve public health by excluding new
coal generation capacity. The CEH SIG has therefore added its voice to calls for a “Just Energy
Transition”, from an inequitable fossil fuel-based economy to one based on clean renewable
energy and social justice for affected energy sector workers and their communities. Renewable
energy use has been rising rapidly in South Africa, while the cost, notably of solar PV and wind
power, has fallen by 80% and 60% respectively in just four years, making renewable capacity
considerably cheaper than new coal-fired power plants.
Health professionals, hospitals, and health systems are increasingly joining this energy
transition by reducing their carbon footprints, investing in climate resilience, and advocating for
transformative climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. The Global Green and
Healthy Hospitals Network, for example, is a project of Health Care without Harm, which
includes South African hospitals and members of the CEH SIG that are demonstrating the
substantial climate and environmental health benefits of more efficient energy, water, and
waste management, among other initiatives.
Our CEH SIG encourages other public health professionals to join a growing global network of
change within their health institutions, health system, and broader society. Make your voice
and actions count for a sustainable future!
James Irlam
Chair: Climate Energy and Health (CEH) Special Interest
Group
Email [email protected] to join the CEH SIG
James Irlam is a Senior Lecturer in the Primary Health Care
Directorate at the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences. He is an
associate of the of Environmental Health (EH) Division in
the School of Public Health and Family Medicine and a co-convener of the MPH EH track. He is a
graduate of the MPhil (Epidemiology) and the MSc (Climate Change and Development)
programmes at UCT. James is a teacher, researcher and advocate for mitigating climate change
and improving public health by means of healthy energy and lifestyle choices – and an avid
commuter cyclist and runner.
Energy is a major public health issue
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1. Full submission by the CEH SIG to the Director-General of the Department of Energy https://
www.phasa.org.za/special-interest-groups/climate-energy-and-health-sig/
2. Parliament hears call to cut air pollution, improve health, 23 October 2018) on CEH SIG
presentation on draft IRP 2018 at Parliament hearings by Portfolio Committee on Energy:
http://m.engineeringnews.co.za/article/parliament-hears-calls-to-cut-air-pollution-improve
-health-2018-10-23/rep_id:4433Climate Change and Health Impacts
3. Coal transitions in South Africa https://www.iddri.org/en/publications-and-events/report/
coal-transitions-south-africa
4. Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network https://www.greenhospitals.net/
5. Groote Schuur Hospital tackles Climate Change https://youtu.be/5ApmE7kJUQo
Divest from Fossil Fuels for a Sustainable Healthy Future for All
The Climate Energy and Health (CEH) SIG supports fossil fuel divestment campaigns
Climate change is widely considered the greatest public health challenge of the 21st century,
threatening all aspects of society. The severity of its impacts on human health are clearer than
ever and will worsen if significant action is not taken now.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) special report (released 8 October
2018) on global warming of 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels had a sobering and urgent message
for the world: humans have already caused about 1℃ of global warming, and we’re on course
for 1.5℃ by about 2040 and 3℃ warming by 2100. This is a grim prospect for the survival of our
planet. A drastic and unprecedented effort to curb global CO₂ emissions 45% by 2030 (relative
to 2010) and to reach “net zero” emissions by 2050 is now required to have a 50% chance of
remaining below 1.5℃ of warming .
The report illustrates the difference between 1.5℃ and 2℃ worlds in several ways. Summertime
Arctic sea ice might disappear once per century at 1.5℃, compared to once per decade at 2℃; 8%
of plants would lose half their suitable habitat, compared to 16%; sea level would rise 10cm less
than at 2℃ (affecting 10 million fewer people at current population levels); and coral reefs might
decline by 80% at 1.5℃, compared to almost 100% at 2℃.
Various emissions reduction scenarios to limit warming to 1.5℃ are described by the IPCC, based
on assumptions such as future economic strategy, population growth and the transition to low
carbon energy. To accelerate the transition to a more stable climate and a healthier planet
requires governments and the energy industry to switch swiftly from fossil fuels such as oil, gas
and coal to clean renewable sources such as wind and solar energy.
Divestment from fossil fuels – and a just reinvestment in renewable energy – is a successful and
massive global strategy to help slow climate change and reduce the public health and economic
risks of fossil fuel investments. Fossil Free South Africa is the local chapter of this worldwide
divestment movement.
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Its campaign calls on South Africa’s top asset and pension fund managers to offer decarbonised,
accessible unit trusts and other investment vehicles to the public, and to invest the assets of the
state pension fund in ways that support a sustainable healthy future for all. The campaign is
enjoying increasing success: Nedbank, Standard Bank and FNB have very recently announced
that they have withdrawn financing for proposed new coal projects that they had previously
committed to.
Our CEH SIG supports the call for fossil fuel divestment; we believe that public health
professionals should help the public understand that what is good for the climate is good for
our health, our economy and our planet’s survival.
James Irlam
Chair: Climate Energy and Health (CEH) Special Interest Group
WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 2018
An Action Agenda to Combat Air Pollution
The first World Health Organization (WHO) Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in
Geneva, Switzerland (30 Oct – 1 Nov 2018) highlighted the urgent need to scale up the global
response to meet health and environmental targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
Air pollution, both ambient and indoor, is estimated to cause 7 million deaths per year: 5.6
million from noncommunicable diseases and 1.5 million from pneumonia. More than half of all
pneumonia deaths in children under-five years of age are caused by air pollution. Effective
interventions are feasible, effective and compatible with economic growth with clear benefits
for public health.
In order to reach the aspirational goal of reducing the number of deaths from air pollution by
two thirds by 2030, the Geneva Action Agenda to Combat Air Pollution calls for action to:
Massively implement solutions to burn less in any form. This includes open burning, and
fuel burning in transport, cooking, heating and in other processes. Implement cleaner and
more efficient energy and transport solutions. Redesign cities around less fossil-fuel burning
and less polluting human mobility. Enhance walking and cycling. Develop circular economies
based on maximizing value of, and recovering and regenerating products and materials as
much as possible. Aim for zero-emission solutions.
Greatly increase access to clean energy and technologies in Africa and other areas with
populations in greatest need. Efforts are required to simultaneously reduce high exposures
to smoke in households, increase energy access in health care facilities, reduce ambient air
pollution, obtain climate and health co-benefits, and contribute to lifting people out of
poverty. New initiatives, such as “Access to clean energy and health in Africa” will enhance
progress towards the achievement of SDGs 3 and 7.
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Our CEH SIG fully supports this agenda for action, particularly since South Africa is so heavily
burdened by air pollution and yet so full of potential for more efficient and cleaner energy
solutions. Furthermore our CEH SIG is working with our WHO country officer to host a
national meeting based on the WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. This
presents a unique opportunity for the WHO country office and the National Department of
Health to address air pollution, and its associated severe public health impacts and significant
climate change impacts.
Rico Euripidou
Secretary: Climate Energy and Health (CEH) Special Interest Group
Rico Euripidou is groundWork’s (Friends of the Earth, South Africa)
Environmental Health Campaigner. He trained as an Environmental
Epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine and Contaminated Land Management in the UK. Rico’s
interests lie in working on issues of energy policy, climate change and
public health, all of which are of course closely interrelated.
9. related to Sustainable Development Goals 3 (on health), 7.2 (access to clean energy in the
home), 11.6 (air quality in cities), 11.2 (access to sustainable transport), and 13 (on climate
change), and the Paris Agreement on climate change
WHO Resources on Air Pollution
One third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are due to air pollution. This is
an equivalent effect to that of smoking tobacco, & much higher than the effects of eating too
much salt.
Health effects of air pollution are serious: watch How air pollution is destroying our health
http://bit.ly/2Dd7HPi
Report on Air Pollution and Child Health: This report summarizes the latest scientific knowledge
on the links between exposure to air pollution and adverse health effects in children http://
www.who.int/air-pollution/news-and-events/how-air-pollution-is-destroying-our-health
Main WHO webpage: More than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air every day: http://
www.who.int/news-room/detail/29-10-2018-more-than-90-of-the-world%E2%80%99s-children
-breathe-toxic-air-every-day
Infographics: http://www.who.int/phe/infographics/air-pollution/en/
Audio press briefing url: http://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/presser/WHO-
RUSH_Environment_air_pollution_and_children_health_report_VPC_29OCT2018.mp3
WHO Social media toolkit for Air pollution and Child Health: Prescribing Clean Air Launch http://
www.who.int/ceh/publications/
Social_Media_Toolkit_AirPollution_Chidren_Health_Report_Launch.pdf?ua=1
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Nine out of ten people now breathe polluted air, which kills 7 million people every year. The
health effects of air pollution are serious – one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and
heart disease are due to air pollution. Around 90% of these deaths are in low- and middle-
income countries, with high volumes of emissions from industry, transport and agriculture, as
well as dirty cookstoves and fuels in homes. Air pollution is closely linked to climate change.
Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause 250 000 additional deaths per
year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. Therefore, efforts to mitigate one
can improve the other.
In South Africa, climate change is a health issue which needs an urgent multisectoral response.
Extreme weather events have the most noticeable effects to date, such as the droughts in the
Western Cape; outbreaks of food and waterborne diseases. WHO and partners are convened
the first ever Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva (https://www.who.int/
airpollution/events/conference/en/) on 29 October – 1 November 2018. The main aim was to
rally the world towards major commitments to fight this problem. The conference raised
awareness of this growing public health challenge and shared information and tools on the
health risks of air pollution and its interventions.
The United Nations Climate Summit (https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/ ) in September
2019 will aim to strengthen climate action and ambition worldwide. Even if all the
commitments made by countries for the Paris Agreement are achieved, the world is still on a
course to warm by more than 3°C this century. Following on the World Health Assembly
Resolution A68, (http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/wha68-rec1/a68_r1_rec1-en.pdf )
and as recommended by the World Health Assembly Resolution A69 and planned “Road Map
for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution”, (https://
apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/250653) it is important that South Africa doubles its efforts to
identify, address and prevent the health impacts of air pollution, and assume a greater
leadership role in promoting policies that protect the public’s health, address inequities and
advance the country’s commitments to climate change accords. Furthermore, the health sector
needs to participate more actively in intersectoral policies addressing air pollution, strengthen
collaboration with international organizations involved in air quality data collection and
processing to ensure breaking down silos amongst various stakeholders, especially with
ministries of environmental affairs.
Air pollution and climate change
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In September 2018, 100 passengers on a flight from Dubai to New York fell ill with
respiratory symptoms, health officials were concerned that they might be carrying a
serious respiratory illness called MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome
Coronavirus) and quarantined the plane until further health checks could be completed.
This event indicated that the world could face another influenza pandemic caused by a
new influenza virus. However, the world does not know when it will happen, what virus
strain it will be and how severe the disease will be.
Pandemics disrupt the economy and social functions like school, work and other mass
gatherings. An influenza pandemic would also likely have significant impacts on the
overall functioning of a country's health system, as it would draw heavily on resources
and health workers. Unlike the world affected by the 1918 influenza pandemic, known
colloquially as “Spanish flu”, the world now has more tools to combat pandemics than
ever before. These include the development of a global influenza surveillance system
that constantly monitors the evolution of circulating influenza strains.
However, for the next influenza pandemic, there are still challenges ahead and in
particular ensuring optimum global collaboration between all countries in the world and
committing to effective and sustainable mechanisms that would allow equitable access
to vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for everyone, everywhere. Therefore, South
African needs to strength not only its core public-health capacities, but also increase its
R&D capabilities, enhance a multisectoral approach, strengthened health-care delivery
systems and to constantly monitor circulation of influenza viruses causing seasonal
outbreaks in people, zoonotic outbreaks, and potential pandemics.
At the core of South Africa’s pandemic preparedness, should be a strong, well-
resourced health system that includes adequately trained and paid health workers;
functioning water, sanitation, and hygiene systems; quality laboratory services for rapid
diagnosis; access to medical
Influenza- Are we ready the next pandemic?
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PLEASE NOTE
The views expressed in “the Pulse” are not
necessarily the views of PHASA, but rather the
views of the respective authors
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